Glass as a material: Transparency at the highest level

GLASS – A MATERIAL WITH MANY ADVANTAGES

A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF GLASS LENDS ROOMS AN INIMITABLE BRIGHTNESS

Almost no other material has enjoyed as much success as glass over the past few decades. The most common use for glass is as transparent glazing in the construction industry. Here at Solarlux, glass is the key component in all our systems – it is symbolic of the openness, transparency and lightness we strive for, and is a great way of drawing a visible line between the inside and outside. As a product, the transparent material also offers a number of notable benefits. The raw materials used to manufacture it – sand, soda and lime – are available in almost unlimited supply, and the modern end product is weatherproof, dimensionally stable and scratch-proof. Modern glass can perform a number of roles in addition to its original purpose of letting in light: it can also offer protection from the sun, noise, heat and fire. And that is precisely why it is used in every Solarlux system – with different glazing types available depending on individual requirements.

Glazing variants

Toughened safety glass (TSG)

Toughened safety glass is a tempered glass in accordance with EN 12150-1 which is subjected to a heat treatment process in order to give it a high degree of internal tension. This makes it significantly more resistant to impact than normal flat glass.

TSG-H

TSG-H is the abbreviation used for toughened safety glass (TSG) that has been subjected to a heat-soak test. During this process, the pre-tensioned glass is placed in a special heat-soak furnace for several hours, where it is subjected to a temperature of 290°C. The heat-soak test prevents spontaneous glass breakage, and is recommended for glass that will be required to fulfil demanding structural requirements.

Laminated safety glass (LSG)

While TSG comprises just one impact-resistant pane of glass, laminated safety glass (LSG) is a composite of two panes of glass bonded together using a viscoplastic, tear-proof film. Unlike TSG, VSG does not shatter into small crumbs if it breaks; instead, the broken glass sticks to the PVB film, which holds it together so that it can continue to provide protection.